Downtown Gatlinburg has no shortage of quirky attractions competing for a traveler’s afternoon, but few pack in as much movie and television history as the Hollywood Star Cars Museum. Since opening its doors in 1996, the museum has grown into a two-story collection of more than 50 vehicles pulled straight from film sets, television studios, and the private garages of some of entertainment’s biggest names. Rather than parking cars behind velvet ropes with a plaque and nothing else, the museum builds out full themed exhibits around most of its vehicles, mixing in props, autographed memorabilia, movie clips playing on loop, and the occasional lighting or sound effect that triggers as visitors walk by.

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This guide walks through what visitors can expect to see floor by floor, what it costs to add a souvenir photo or a spin in the motion simulator, and whether the museum earns a spot on a Smoky Mountains itinerary. Everything covered below reflects what is actually on display inside the building, from the smallest prop motorcycle to the multimillion-dollar Mustang guarding the ground floor.

Hollywood Star Cars Museum

The Hollywood Star Cars Museum sits along the main Parkway near the Sky Park area of downtown Gatlinburg, close to the Gatlinburg Space Needle and a cluster of Ripley’s attractions, including the dinosaur-themed Motion Blaster ride and Ripley’s Haunted Adventure. Visitors can spot the building from the sidewalk before they even reach the ticket booth, with a few vehicles positioned outside as a preview of what waits inside.

Anyone driving in from Pigeon Forge or Sevierville can use the bypass road to skip the heaviest downtown traffic and reach this side of town faster, though mornings tend to move along without much of a slowdown. The drive through downtown itself passes a steady run of shops, restaurants, and other attractions, including one of the area’s mountain coasters, before crossing over toward the Sky Park side of town where the museum sits. Parking is available along the surrounding streets, and the museum is close enough to the Space Needle and nearby Ripley’s attractions that a short walk covers the distance comfortably.

Walking distance from the museum, the Pancake Pantry is a popular breakfast stop before a morning at the museum, and lines tend to form early. On the same stretch of downtown, Speedworks Exotic Car Experience occupies a corner spot and offers its own lineup of exotic vehicles, including Lamborghinis and Bugattis, which makes it easy to visit both car-focused attractions back to back if the itinerary allows.

Getting tickets and knowing before you go

The museum opens at 9:00 a.m., and admission is priced separately for adults and children, with kids five and under getting in free. Once inside, staff allow guests to take unlimited photos and video throughout the exhibit halls. The only rule is to avoid touching the vehicles or climbing inside them, though most displays are set up so visitors can get close enough for a detailed look, and several vehicles have their windows left open specifically so guests can peek into the interiors.

Because the museum spans two floors connected by both stairs and an elevator, it works for guests who cannot manage stairs. Depending on how busy the museum gets, staff also open a second entrance, which keeps foot traffic moving during peak hours. Each vehicle throughout the building is paired with a wall-mounted poster covering background details, and in several cases a short video clip plays nearby showing the car or motorcycle in the actual film or show it came from.

A walk through the ground floor collection

Right at the entrance, an outdoor display rotates through a few larger vehicles. During one recent visit, that spot held a car from Jurassic Park Rebirth, the entry in the franchise starring Scarlett Johansson, though the same space has also displayed an Avengers vehicle in the past, suggesting the museum swaps this piece out periodically.

Once inside, the collection opens with Little Herby, one of the smallest cars on display and part of the museum’s lineup since it first opened in 1996, making it one of the longest-running pieces in the entire building. Nearby sits a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS used in Disney’s Freakier Friday, a recent enough addition that it still carries that new-to-the-collection shine.

The single most recognizable piece on the ground floor is television’s original 1966 Batmobile, driven on screen by Adam West and autographed by its creator, George Barris. The car still has its working details on display, including the emergency bat-turn lever, the afterburner activation button, and the bat radar housing, along with framed photos and autographs mounted on the surrounding wall.

From there, the ground floor shifts into a run of racing-themed vehicles. A car from the Gran Turismo film, based on the true story of a video game player who transitioned into real-world racing, carries a Sony logo on its side. Next to it is a Nissan Skyline R34 driven by the late Paul Walker in one of the Fast and Furious films, displayed alongside a movie poster signed by Vin Diesel.

A miniature motorcycle used as a prop in Ant-Man and the Wasp sits close by, a detail that Marvel fans in particular tend to appreciate. A 2012 Nissan GTR Black Edition rounds out this stretch of Fast and Furious vehicles on the lower floor.

The most valuable single vehicle in the museum is the 1967 Mustang Shelby GT500 known as Eleanor, from Gone in 60 Seconds starring Nicholas Cage, carrying a reported price tag of four million dollars. Its window is left open, giving visitors a rare close look inside one of the collection’s centerpiece cars.

Also on the ground floor: the 1969 Dodge Charger known as the General Lee from The Dukes of Hazzard, the Flintmobile from Universal’s 1994 Flintstones film starring Rick

Moranis and John Goodman, Steve McQueen’s 1966 BSA A65L Lightning motorcycle, a motorcycle used in John Wick 3, an ice-themed charger from The Fate of the Furious, additional vehicles connected to Fast and Furious Presents:

Hobbs and Shaw, including a 1963 Ford Falcon resto-mod built by Jeff Allen, and a 2000 Lamborghini Diablo VT Roadster once owned by former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, still wearing a Tennessee plate that reads “fastest.

The motion driving simulator experience

Tucked into the ground floor is an add-on experience beyond the standard walkthrough: a motion driving simulator priced at $14.99 per session. Each run lasts about eight minutes and covers approximately seven simulated laps. The museum keeps two simulator units running, and guests can choose from a handful of vehicle options, including one styled after the Ghostbusters car. It is a worthwhile stop for visitors who want a hands-on moment to go along with the look-but-don’t-touch nature of the rest of the museum.

Upstairs: spooky classics and Hollywood royalty

Heading up the stairs (or the elevator) leads into a section built around horror and cult classics. Christine, the 1958 Plymouth Fury based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, holds court as one of the more unsettling pieces in the building. Nearby, the Munsters’ monster coach recalls the vehicle’s television debut in 1965, complete with small lighting details worked into the display.

A dedicated theater near the top of the stairs runs a four-minute film about George Barris, the customizer behind many of the museum’s most famous vehicles, often referred to as the King of Kustomizers. Just outside the theater sits a small Porsche built by Barris to recreate James Dean’s car from the film Race with Destiny.

From there, the upstairs level moves into a section built around James Bond, anchored by a BMW and a case of movie props, including Oddjob’s bowler hat and a gold bar prop from Goldfinger, along with additional items from the Pierce Brosnan era of the franchise.

A Transformers display follows, featuring the Bumblebee character as seen in the standalone Bumblebee film set in 1987, alongside a 1941 Willys Jeep used in the same movie.

A Ghost Rider motorcycle tied to Nicholas Cage’s version of the character sits close by.

Older television history gets its own corner upstairs as well: a 1922 Oldsmobile Touring sedan used as the Beverly Hillbillies jalopy, a 1977 Pontiac Trans Am from Smokey and the Bandit starring Burt Reynolds,

A motorcycle noted as one of the first to cross a river in 1918, and a 1961 Ford Galaxy squad car from The Andy Griffith Show, its glove box autographed by Don Knotts.

Movie fans will also find a truck from Twister rigged with lightning effects that trigger as visitors walk past, along with Joe’s Stormchaser, a 1982 Jeep pickup connected to the same film. Rounding out the upstairs section: a Jeep from the television series MASH, a vehicle from the film Logan featuring Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine and modified to look futuristic in line with the movie’s 2029 setting,

The Ghostbusters vehicle with its equipment-filled interior and New York license plate, a 2008 BMW from the George Clooney and Brad Pitt film Wolfs, and the museum’s Back to the Future Delorean, displayed beneath a clock tower prop alongside items signed by Michael J. Fox and one of the hoverboard props from Back to the Future Part II.

Second floor: celebrity vehicles and more Fast and Furious cars

The second floor shifts focus toward vehicles once owned by entertainers rather than used purely as movie props. Dolly Parton’s Cadillac Escalade anchors this section, displayed with several of her dresses, a pair of shoes, a signed guitar, and a photo backdrop for guests who want their own picture with the display.

NASCAR fans will find a 1990 Chevrolet Lumina stock car connected to Days of Thunder, tied to the character Cole Trickle. Nearby, vehicles from Ford v Ferrari, the film starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale, cover the museum’s motorsport history angle from a different era.

A 1955 Ford Thunderbird signed by the Beach Boys sits beneath a large wave-themed display, followed by Herbie the Love Bug, the 1967 Volkswagen Beetle from Disney’s original Love Bug film, and a 1953 Buick Skylark once owned by Bob Hope.

Two of the most photographed stops on this floor belong to Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson. Elvis’s 1975 Lincoln Continental Mark V is displayed with a photo of the car parked in front of Graceland, along with his glasses and other personal items placed inside, plus a video looping in the background.

Michael Jackson’s 1985 Mercedes-Benz sits nearby with the Thriller music video playing behind it; according to the museum’s display, Jackson originally bought the car for use on his Neverland estate before eventually gifting it to his aunt.

The second floor closes out with another wave of Fast and Furious vehicles: a 1966 Chevrolet Stingray driven by Michelle Rodriguez in The Fate of the Furious, an Aston Martin DB9, a 2015 Subaru driven by Scott Eastwood, a 2005 Bentley Continental GT driven by Tyrese Gibson, and a 1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse, all tied to the same film.

A Dodge Charger nearby is rigged with sound effects that activate as guests pass, and it carries a small memorial to Paul Walker on the back. The floor wraps up with a Batmobile from Michael Keaton’s run as Batman, displayed alongside a Robin figure and additional props from that era of the franchise.

Souvenir photos and the gift shop

Down on the lower level, the museum runs a souvenir photo studio where guests can pose inside a selection of vehicles, including the Ghostbusters car and a Ghost Rider motorcycle. Prints run $10 for a 4×6 photo or $20 for an 8×10, and frames are available for purchase as well.

The gift shop sits near the exit and is worth a stop even for visitors who skip the museum tour entirely, since it has its own street-facing entrance. Shelves are stocked with a Hollywood Star Cars Museum t-shirt and hat combo, Back to the Future and Ghostbusters Funko Pops, diecast vehicles including a Delorean, license-plate-style magnets, Legos themed around Batman, Fast and Furious, and Bumblebee, coffee mugs, Fast and Furious Hot Wheels cars, additional t-shirts and keychains, and a souvenir penny press machine stamped with designs including Eleanor from Gone in 60 Seconds, a Fast and Furious car, and the 1966 Batmobile. Shoppers looking for a specific name on a magnet or keychain will find a decent spread of common names in stock, though not every name turns up on every visit, so it is worth checking early rather than saving that stop for last. Between the diecast cars, the movie-branded apparel, and the penny press machine, the shop covers a wide enough price range that it works for both a quick five-dollar souvenir and a larger gift for a car or movie enthusiast back home.

Hollywood Star Cars Museum vs Speedworks Exotic Car Experience

Travelers deciding between the two car-themed attractions on this stretch of Gatlinburg’s Parkway are comparing two different experiences. Speedworks Exotic Car Experience focuses on roughly 15 high-performance exotic cars, including Lamborghinis and Bugattis, aimed at visitors who want to see modern supercars up close. The Hollywood Star Cars Museum leans entirely into entertainment history, pairing each vehicle with movie clips, props, and memorabilia rather than showcasing raw horsepower. Car enthusiasts with a strong interest in performance vehicles may prefer Speedworks, while movie and television fans will get more out of the Star Cars Museum. Because both attractions sit close together downtown, visiting both in the same outing is realistic for travelers who want the full picture.

Tips for visiting

Arriving close to the 9:00 a.m. opening helps avoid the busiest stretch of the day, particularly during summer travel season when downtown Gatlinburg traffic builds up quickly. Grabbing breakfast at the Pancake Pantry beforehand is a convenient option, though the line there can grow long even in the morning. Because the museum uses more than one entrance depending on crowd size, it helps to follow posted signage rather than assuming there is only one way in. Visitors who want the souvenir photo experience should plan for the extra cost separately from the general admission ticket, and anyone interested in the motion simulator should budget the additional $14.99 and roughly eight minutes into the visit. The full walkthrough, including both floors, the simulator, and the gift shop, comfortably fills an hour or more depending on how long a visitor lingers at each display. Fans of a specific franchise, whether that is Fast and Furious, Batman, or Back to the Future, may want to move at a slower pace through the sections tied to those films, since the museum spreads vehicles from the same series across multiple rooms rather than grouping every related car in one spot. Visitors chasing a specific favorite car are better off scanning the wall posters near each exhibit rather than assuming a franchise is only represented once.

Is Hollywood Star Cars Museum worth it?

For travelers with any interest in film, television, or celebrity history, the museum delivers a dense collection in a relatively compact space. The range runs from horror-era classics like Christine to modern franchise vehicles from Fast and Furious, alongside genuinely personal pieces like Dolly Parton’s Cadillac and Elvis’s Lincoln Continental. The combination of authentic movie vehicles, working props, and celebrity-owned cars gives the museum a different feel from a typical static car show. Visitors without much interest in movies or television may get less out of the experience, but for anyone planning a downtown Gatlinburg day that already includes stops like Ripley’s attractions or the Space Needle, the museum fits naturally into that same walk and adds a couple of hours of genuinely varied sightseeing.

Families traveling with kids of different ages tend to find something for everyone here as well. Younger visitors gravitate toward the brighter, more recognizable pieces like the Transformers Bumblebee display or Herbie the Love Bug, while older kids and adults spend more time reading the posters next to franchise vehicles from Fast and Furious or the Batman films. The mix of hands-off historical pieces with the hands-on motion simulator and souvenir photo studio also gives the visit a bit of variety beyond simply walking past parked cars, which helps hold attention across a range of ages during the roughly hour-long tour.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to tour the Hollywood Star Cars Museum?

Most visitors spend around an hour moving through both floors, longer if they add the motion simulator or stop for a souvenir photo along the way.

Is photography allowed inside the museum?

Yes. Guests can take unlimited photos and video throughout the museum. The only restriction is avoiding physical contact with the vehicles or getting inside them.

How much does the souvenir photo package cost?

A 4×6 print costs $10, and an 8×10 print costs $20. Frames are sold separately for guests who want to display the photo.

What time does the Hollywood Star Cars Museum open?

The museum opens at 9:00 a.m.

Is there an age discount for tickets?

Children five and under get in free. Adult and child tickets are priced separately for everyone older.

Can I visit the gift shop without buying a museum ticket?

Yes. The gift shop has its own entrance from the street, so visitors can browse and shop even if they skip the museum tour.

Is the Hollywood Star Cars Museum accessible for guests who cannot use stairs?

Yes. The building includes an elevator connecting both floors in addition to the staircase.

Can visitors sit inside the cars on display?

No. Guests are asked not to touch the vehicles or climb inside them, though many displays have open windows or doors positioned so visitors can still see the interiors up close. The motion simulator and the souvenir photo studio are the two spots in the museum where guests can actually sit inside a car.

How much does the motion simulator cost?

The motion simulator costs $14.99 per session, runs about eight minutes, and covers roughly seven simulated laps. The museum operates two simulator units, so wait times stay manageable even when the museum is busy.

Is the gift shop only for museum ticket holders?

No. The gift shop has a separate street-level entrance, so anyone walking through downtown Gatlinburg can stop in and shop without buying admission to the museum itself.

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